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Florida Gateway College student Elisabeth Garcia-Gijon placed second in pathophysiology at the HOSA Springs Regional Conference on Jan. 24. (COURTESY FLORIDA GATEWAY COLLEGE)

Florida Gateway College student Elisabeth Garcia-Gijon placed second in pathophysiology at the HOSA Springs Regional Conference on Jan. 24. (COURTESY FLORIDA GATEWAY COLLEGE)

FGC student advances to state HOSA

NEWS STAFF
Friday, January 30, 2026
Florida Gateway College’s HOSA–Future Health Professionals chapter celebrated last weekend  when a member earned a trip to the state competition. FGC student Elisabeth Garcia-Gijon earned second place in pathophysiology at the HOSA Springs Regional Conference on Jan.
Construction of the new Eastside Elementary School on Baya Avenue is expected to be ready by the start of the next school year. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Construction of the new Eastside Elementary School on Baya Avenue is expected to be ready by the start of the next school year. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Eastside Elementary School construction ahead of schedule

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Towering above Baya Avenue, the new Eastside Elementary School is ahead of schedule and a point of conversation. “People talk about it all the time on that road,” Superintendent of Columbia County Schools Keith Couey said Wednesday.
Columbia School District Coordinator of College, Career and Technical Education Andrea Cox said Columbia Online is a result of “considerable” time researching the virtual school component for the district as well as gathering input from the community. (COURTESY)

Columbia School District Coordinator of College, Career and Technical Education Andrea Cox said Columbia Online is a result of “considerable” time researching the virtual school component for the district as well as gathering input from the community. (COURTESY)

District launching Columbia Online

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
The Columbia County School District is going virtual. The Columbia County School Board unanimously approved Tuesday the district launching Columbia Online, a virtual school option for students in grades 6-12, beginning with the 2026-27 school year.
Barbara Etter, community services coordinator with Living Hope, speaks to Columbia County Chief Deputy Katina Dicks at a local event. (COURTESY)

Barbara Etter, community services coordinator with Living Hope, speaks to Columbia County Chief Deputy Katina Dicks at a local event. (COURTESY)

First Federal grants $5K to Living Hope

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Living Hope, Inc. has received a $5,000 grant from First Federal Foundation to support the organization’s First Things First initiative, which provides critical mental health and wellness services to first responders, military veterans, and their families throughout north central Florida.
Ferne Mann (right) tosses the bag of letters to other Scrabble players while her tournament partner Mark Kirby looks on during last year’s Lake City Garden Club’s Scrabble Tournament at First Presbyterian Church. (FILE)

Ferne Mann (right) tosses the bag of letters to other Scrabble players while her tournament partner Mark Kirby looks on during last year’s Lake City Garden Club’s Scrabble Tournament at First Presbyterian Church. (FILE)

Words, funds set to ‘bloom’

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
A decade of connecting letters and words — as well as a community — will be celebrated in two weeks. The Lake City Garden Club is set to host its 10th annual Scrabble tournament on Thursday, Feb. 12. The event is slated to be held at the First Presbyterian Church, located at 697 SW Baya Dr.
The 32nd annual IDIDARIDE was held Saturday in White Springs by the Suwannee Bicycle Association. The annual offroad biking challenge, which drew around 275 cyclists, was themed ‘Alien Invasion.’ (COURTESY MICK SHEA)

The 32nd annual IDIDARIDE was held Saturday in White Springs by the Suwannee Bicycle Association. The annual offroad biking challenge, which drew around 275 cyclists, was themed ‘Alien Invasion.’ (COURTESY MICK SHEA)

Hundreds take part in annual off-road biking challenge

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
WHITE SPRINGS — This southern Hamilton County town was invaded by more than 200 bicyclists participating in the 32nd annual IDIDARIDE this past weekend.
America 250 license plates are available in Florida throughout this year in celebration of the country’s semiquincentennial. (COURTESY)

America 250 license plates are available in Florida throughout this year in celebration of the country’s semiquincentennial. (COURTESY)

Patriotism on display with America 250 plates

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
Floridians can now display their patriotic pride on the back of their vehicle. In honor of the United State’s of America’s semiquincentennial, the State of Florida is offering a new license plate that will be available for just this year.

Convicted murderer found with firearm in traffic stop

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
A convicted murderer was found with a firearm after running a stop sign early Tuesday morning. A Columbia County sheriff’s deputy stopped 49-year-old Christopher Tanner after he didn’t stop at NW Main Boulevard and W. Duval Street 3:30 a.m. Tuesday in a white Dodge Ram pickup.